Scottish woman finds snake in cutlery drawer

A snake has been rescued after a woman found it in her cutlery drawer as she made a cup of tea.

The woman encountered the reptile when she reached in to find a teaspoon at her home in Coningham Terrace, Aberdeen.

She initially rang police, who called in the Scottish SPCA, which is now caring for the red, black and brown striped milk snake at its Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Drumoak.

It is thought that the reptile, which staff have named Spooner, is a pet who may have escaped from somewhere nearby.

Animal rescue officer Lynne Craib said: "The poor woman got a real fright when she reached into the drawer to grab a teaspoon and found Spooner the snake instead.

"Spooner is in good condition, so we think he has been someone's pet until recently.

"Snakes need heat to survive and it was quite warm in the lady's kitchen, so that may be why Spooner went inside the drawer.

"We've rescued snakes from all sorts of unusual places over the last few months, including behind a washing machine and around a lamppost, but this is the first one found in a cutlery drawer.

"Snakes are really good escape artists, so there's every chance Spooner has an owner nearby who is missing him."

Milk snakes are common pets and are not dangerous or poisonous.

Spooner was found on Friday.

PA